International

Badel breaks through for first win of current stint

Duel winner Neil Callan shared riding honours with Frenchman Alexis Badel at Happy Valley on Wednesday night with Badel making the fifth meeting of his sophomore Hong Kong season a night to remember with a double of his own.

Badel brought Confucius Spirit with a well-timed run to take the first section of the Class 4 Kyoto Handicap (1200m) at 24/1 for title-leading trainer Frankie Lor, but it was his victory aboard enigmatic Danny Shum-trained gelding Lucky Girl in the nightcap, the Class 2 Tokyo Handicap (1650m), that proved particularly poignant.

“Of course, I think it is important to break the ice, so the first winner is always important,” Badel said. “But it was really good to win for Danny in the last, he gave me a lot of good horses last time and he’s really supported me again this time.”

Lucky Girl stretches out to win the Class 2 Tokyo Handicap (1650m), giving Alexis Badel his second win of the night, picture Hong Kong Jockey Club

Noted for his awkward and gangly physique, Lucky Girl does not immediately appear the type who would be suited to the tight confines of the Happy Valley track, and Shum admitted to harbouring concerns before the six-year-old’s course debut in October.

“He was frustrating me last season,” Shum said. “He has all the talent but he just wasn’t putting it together. We even talked about retirement, but the owner said he loved the horse and wanted to keep him in training, so we have been trying different things. I didn’t think Happy Valley would suit him, but his last run was so good even with 133lb to carry – just one more step and he would have won.

“He needs everything to go right for him and he needs to be able to stretch out, but it was a good ride from Alexis tonight – he gave the horse everything he needs to win.”

For Badel, riding Lucky Girl was a careful balancing act that had to be managed precisely.

“I think this horse needs to come from behind, he is better when he chases rather than being in front,” Badel said. “You can’t chase him too much, so the balance was about trying to settle him for the first half for the race but then making sure that he was close enough that he didn’t have to make up too much ground in the straight. For him to balance up and sprint, he had to be close enough.”